Shoe with controlled flexibility

Abstract

The invention relates a sport shoe having a shell base topped by an upper that is pivotal/flexible with respect to the shell base via a flexion control arrangement. The flexion control arrangement includes a viscous element interposed between mobile portions which overlap and displace relatively with respect to each other when the upper pivots, forming a flexion control by viscous friction. The viscous element procures a silent and constant braking between the mobile portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sports shoe comprising: a shell base;   an upper extending upwardly from said shell base, said upper being movably affixed to said shell base, said upper and said base comprising respective overlapping portions, each of said respective overlapping portions being movable with respect to the other during movement of said upper with respect to said shell base;   at least one movement control arrangement to control movement of said upper with respect to said shell base; and   a viscous control device including a viscous material interposed between and in contact with said respective overlapping portions of said upper and said shell base, said viscous material having a viscosity at 40° C. of between 20 and 1,500 poise.   
     
     
       2. A sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein: a flexible connection connects said upper and said shell base, whereby said upper is adapted to flex with respect to said shell base.   
     
     
       3. A sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein: a pivot connection connects said upper and said shell base, whereby said upper is adapted to pivot with respect to said shell base.   
     
     
       4. A sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein: said overlapping portions are constituted by a wall of said upper and a wall of said shell base, said walls being in constant overlapping relationship with said viscous material interposed between said walls.   
     
     
       5. A sports shoe according to claim 4, wherein: said movement control device comprises an elastic movement control device;   said wall of said upper comprises a lower front edge of said upper; and   said wall of said shell base comprises a curved portion substantially corresponding to a flexion fold area of a foot of a wearer, at least said curved portion of said shell base being made of a plastic material, whereby said lower front edge of said upper and said curved portion of said shell base constitute said elastic movement control device, whereby forward movement of said upper causes deformation of said curved portion of said shell base.   
     
     
       6. A sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein: said overlapping portions are constituted by an element affixed to said upper and an element affixed to said shell base, said elements being in a slidable contacting relationship with said viscous material interposed between said elements.   
     
     
       7. A sports shoe according to claim 4, wherein: said viscous control device includes a shallow housing in one of said walls; and   said viscous material is located within said shallow housing.   
     
     
       8. A sports shoe according to claim 6, wherein: said viscous control device includes a shallow housing in one of said elements; and   said viscous material is located within said shallow housing.   
     
     
       9. A sports shoe according to claim 6, wherein: one of said elements comprises a hollow member, said hollow member being affixed to one of said upper and said shell base;   a second of said elements comprises a projecting member projecting into said hollow member, said projecting member being affixed to the other of said upper and said shell base; and   said viscous material being located within said hollow member.   
     
     
       10. A sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein: said hollow member and said projecting member are affixed to rear portions of the shoe.   
     
     
       11. A sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein: said projecting member is flexible and comprises an elastic control device by opposing forward movement of said upper with respect to said shell base and by ensuring elastic rearward return movement of said upper; and   said viscous control device comprises a means for dampening said forward and rearward movement of said upper with viscous friction generated by said viscous material.   
     
     
       12. A sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein: said viscous control device, including said viscous material, is located on at least one side of the shoe between said upper and said shell base.   
     
     
       13. A sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein: said viscous control device, including said viscous material, is located at an anterior portion of the shoe, said anterior portion of the shoe corresponding to a top of a wearer's foot and a lower portion of the wearer's leg.   
     
     
       14. A sports shoe according to claim 1, further comprising said viscous control device comprising means for exerting a braking force on said movement of said upper with respect to said shell base as a function of a speed of forces exerted at said viscous material: means for varying a magnitude of said braking force exerted by said viscous control device.   
     
     
       15. A sports shoe according to claim 14, wherein: said means for varying a magnitude of said braking force comprises a releasable latching device for selectively latching and unlatching one of said overlapping portions with respect to a second of said overlapping portions, whereby in an unlatched position, said braking force exerted by said viscous material is reduced with respect to said braking force in said latched position.   
     
     
       16. A sports shoe comprising: a shell base;   an upper extending upwardly from said shell base, said upper being movably affixed to said shell base, said upper and said base comprising respective overlapping portions, each of said respective overlapping portions being movable with respect to the other during movement of said upper with respect to said shell base;   at least one elastic control arrangement controlling movement of said upper with respect to said shell base; and   a viscous material interposed between and in contact with said respective overlapping portions of said upper and said shell base, said viscous material having a viscosity at 40° C. of between 20 and 1,500 poise.   
     
     
       17. A sports shoe according to claim 16, wherein: said viscosity at 40° C. is about 400 poise.   
     
     
       18. A sports shoe according to claim 16, wherein: the sports shoe comprises a ski boot.   
     
     
       19. A sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein: said viscous material comprises organic or mineral oil.